Organic light-emitting display device

ABSTRACT

There is provided an organic light-emitting display device comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern and a plurality of wiring lines formed in a zigzag pattern and extending in a row direction between the pixels.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, andclaims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an applicationearlier filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 28,2012 and duly assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0156942.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an organiclight-emitting display device, and more particularly, to an organiclight-emitting display device with an extended life.

2. Description of the Related Art

An organic light-emitting display device may include a plurality ofpixels, and each of the pixels may include a first electrode, a secondelectrode, and an organic layer interposed between the first electrodeand the second electrode. The organic layer may emit light at aluminance level corresponding to an electric current flowing between thefirst electrode and the second electrode. The organic light-emittingdisplay device may display a desired image by controlling the electriccurrent flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode.

The organic layer may deteriorate over time, resulting in a reduction inthe emission efficiency of the organic layer. Examples of deteriorationof the organic layer may include corrosion of the organic layer due tointroduction of oxygen or moisture from outside the organiclight-emitting display device and crystallization of a materialcontained in the organic layer due to a change in the structure ortemperature of the organic layer caused by electrical stress acting onthe organic layer while the organic light-emitting display device isbeing driven. The deterioration of the organic layer may determine thelifespan of the organic light-emitting display device.

Each organic layer may deteriorate to a different degree according tothe color of light that the organic layer emits. For example, lifespanmay be reduced in the order of an organic layer which emits red light,an organic layer which emits green light, and an organic layer whichemits blue light. The performance of an organic layer may deteriorateaccording to the density of an electric current flowing through theorganic layer. For example, as the density of an electric currentflowing through an organic layer increases, the deterioration of theorganic layer may increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above described problems and to make organic layers of anorganic light-emitting display device have an equal lifespan, thepresent invention provides various embodiments by forming each organiclayer with a different size according to the color of light that arespective organic layer emits.

Aspects of the present invention provide an organic light-emittingdisplay device in which the size of an organic layer of a color whichdeteriorates rapidly is increased to extend the life of the organiclight-emitting display device.

Aspects of the present invention also provide an organic light-emittingdisplay device with an improved aperture ratio.

However, aspects of the present invention are not restricted to the oneset forth herein. The above and other aspects of the present inventionwill become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to whichthe present invention pertains by referencing the detailed descriptionof the present invention given below.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided anorganic light-emitting display device comprising a plurality of pixelsarranged in a matrix pattern and a plurality of wiring lines formed in azigzag pattern and extending in a row direction between the pixels.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan organic light-emitting display device comprising a substrate, aninsulating layer disposed on the substrate, a plurality of bottomelectrodes arranged on the insulating layer in a matrix pattern, anorganic layer disposed on each of the bottom electrodes, a top electrodedisposed on the organic layer, and a plurality of wiring lines formed onthe insulating layer in a zigzag pattern and placed between rows of thebottom electrodes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an organic light-emitting display deviceconstructed as an embodiment according to the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a pixel of the organic light-emittingdisplay device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement ofpixels and wiring lines of the organic light-emitting display deviceshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the organic light-emitting displaydevice, taken along the line IV-IV′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement ofbottom electrodes and the wiring lines of the organic light-emittingdisplay device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement oforganic layers and the wiring lines of the organic light-emittingdisplay device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement ofpixels and wiring lines of an organic light-emitting display deviceconstructed as another embodiment according to the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement ofbottom electrodes and the wiring lines of the organic light-emittingdisplay device shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement oforganic layers and the wiring lines of the organic light-emittingdisplay device shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods ofaccomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference tothe following detailed description of preferred embodiments and theaccompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodiedin many different forms and should not be construed as being limited tothe embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are providedso that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fullyconvey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and thepresent invention will only be defined by the appended claims. Thus, insome embodiments, well-known structures and devices are not shown inorder not to obscure the description of the invention with unnecessarydetail. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the drawings,the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can bedirectly on or connected to the other element or layer or interveningelements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element isreferred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” anotherelement or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present.As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another element. Thus, for example, a first element, afirst component or a first section discussed below could be termed asecond element, a second component or a second section without departingfrom the teachings of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described withreference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an organic light-emitting display device1000 constructed as an embodiment according to the principles of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the organic light-emitting display device 1000includes a display panel 100.

The display panel 100 may include a plurality of pixels PX and aplurality of wiring lines for transmitting signals to the pixels PX. Thepixels PX may be arranged in a matrix pattern. Each of the pixels PX mayemit light of one of red, green and blue colors. The light emission ofthe pixels PX may be controlled by first through n^(th) scan signals S1through Sn, first through m^(th) data signals D1 through Dm, and firstthrough n^(th) emission signals EM1 through EMn provided from outside ofthe display panel 100. The first through n^(th) scan signals S1 throughSn may control whether the pixels PX will receive the first throughm^(th) data signals D1 through Dm, respectively. Each of the firstthrough m^(th) data signals D1 through Dm may include information abouta luminance level of light that a corresponding one of the pixels PXwill emit. The first through n^(th) emission signals EM1 through EMn mayrespectively control the light emission of the pixels PX. The operationof the pixels PX will now be described in detail with reference to FIG.2.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a pixel PX of the organic light-emittingdisplay device 1000 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the pixel PXmay include first through sixth transistors T1 through T6, a drivingtransistor Td, an organic light-emitting diode OLED, and a firstcapacitor C1.

The driving transistor Td has a drain electrode connected to the fifthtransistor T5 and the fourth transistor T4 and a source electrodeconnected to the sixth transistor T6 and the second transistor T2. Thedriving transistor Td transmits an electric current, which correspondsto a voltage difference between the source electrode and a gateelectrode, to the organic light-emitting diode OLED, so that the organiclight-emitting diode OLED emits light corresponding to the electriccurrent.

The fifth and sixth transistors T5 and T6 are respectively connected tothe drain electrode and the source electrode of the driving transistorTd so as to pass or block the electric current transmitted from thedriving transistor Td to the organic light-emitting diode OLED. Ani^(th) emission signal EMi is transmitted to a gate electrode of each ofthe fifth and sixth transistors T5 and T6, and the operation of thefifth and sixth transistors T5 and T6 is controlled by the i^(th)emission signal EMi.

A (i−1)^(th) scan signal Si-1 may be transmitted to a gate electrode ofthe second transistor T2. The second transistor T2 may be turned on bythe (i−1)^(th) scan signal Si-1 before an i^(th) scan signal Si istransmitted to the pixel PX. When turned on, the second transistor T2may transmit a power supply voltage ELVDD to the source electrode of thedriving transistor Td.

The i^(th) scan signal Si may be transmitted to a gate electrode of thefirst transistor T1. The first transistor T1 may be turned on by thei^(th) scan signal Si. When turned on, the first transistor T1 maytransmit a j^(th) data signal Dj to the source electrode of the drivingtransistor Td.

The (i−1)^(th) scan signal Si-1 may be transmitted to a gate electrodeof the third transistor T3. The third transistor T3 may be turned on bythe (i−1)^(th) scan signal Si-1. When turned on, the third transistor T3may transmit an initialization voltage VINIT to the gate electrode ofthe driving transistor Td.

The i^(th) scan signal Si may be transmitted to a gate electrode of thefourth transistor T4. The fourth transistor T4 may be turned on by thei^(th) scan signal Si. When turned on, the fourth transistor T4 mayconnect the gate electrode and the drain electrode of the drivingtransistor Td. Accordingly, the driving transistor Td may bediode-connected.

The first capacitor C1 is interposed between the gate electrode of thedriving transistor Td and the power supply voltage ELVDD and maintains avoltage applied to the gate electrode of the driving transistor Td.

An anode of the organic light-emitting diode OLED may be connected tothe fifth transistor T5, and a base power supply voltage ELVSS may beapplied to a cathode of the organic light-emitting diode OLED. When thefifth and sixth transistors T5 and T6 are turned on, the organiclight-emitting diode OLED may emit light at a luminance level whichcorresponds to an electric current flowing through the organiclight-emitting diode OLED.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the wiring lines may include wiring lines fortransmitting the first through n^(th) scan signals S1 through Sn, thefirst through m^(th) data signals D1 through Dm, the first throughn^(th) emission signals EM1 through EMn, and the initialization voltageVINIT. The wiring lines for transmitting the first through n^(th) scansignals 51 through Sn and the first through n^(th) emission signals EM1through EMn may extend in a row direction of the pixels PX. The wiringlines for transmitting the first through m^(th) data signals D1 throughDm may extend in a column direction of the pixels PX. The wiring linesfor transmitting the initialization voltage VINIT may extend in the rowdirection of the pixels PX. The wiring lines for transmitting theinitialization voltage VINIT may be formed in a zigzag pattern. If thewiring lines for transmitting the initialization voltage VINIT areformed in a zigzag pattern, an aperture ratio of the organiclight-emitting display device 1000 can be improved, and the area of anorganic layer in each blue pixel PX can be increased to extend the lifeof the blue pixel PX. This will be described in more detail later.

The organic light-emitting display device 1000 may further include adriving unit and a voltage generator 300.

The driving unit may include a timing controller 210, a data driver 220and a scan driver 230. The timing controller 210 may receive image datafrom an external source and generate a scan driver control signal SCSfor controlling the scan driver 230 and a data driver control signal DCSfor controlling the data driver 220 based on the received image data.

The data driver 220 may receive the data driver control signal DCS andgenerate the first through m^(th) data signals D1 through Dmcorresponding to the data driver control signal DCS.

The scan driver 230 may receive the scan driver control signal SCS andgenerate the first through n^(th) scan signals S1 through Sn and thefirst through n^(th) emission signals EM1 through EMn corresponding tothe scan driver control signal SCS.

The voltage generator 300 may generate the initialization voltage VINIT,the power supply voltage ELVDD and the base power supply voltage ELVSSand provide the generated voltages VINIT, ELVDD and ELVSS to the displaypanel 100. According to some embodiments, the initialization voltageVINIT, the power supply voltage ELVDD, and the base power supply voltageELVSS are variable. Thus, the timing controller 210 may control thevoltage generator 300 to vary the initialization voltage VINIT, thepower supply voltage ELVDD, and the base power supply voltage ELVSS.

The arrangement of the pixels PX and the wiring lines will now bedescribed in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a plan viewschematically illustrating the arrangement of the pixels PX and wiringlines WL1 and WL2 of the organic light-emitting display device 1000shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the pixels PX may be divided into first pixels PR,second pixels PG, and third pixels PB. For example, the first pixels PRmay be pixels that emit red light, the second pixels PG may be pixelsthat emit green light, and the third pixels PB may be pixels that emitblue light. The second pixels PG may be placed on both sides of each ofthe first pixels PR in the row direction. The third pixels PB may beplaced on both sides of each of the first pixels PR in the columndirection. One first pixel PR and one third pixel PB may be placed onboth sides of each of the second pixels PG in the row direction. Thesecond pixels PG may be placed on both sides of each of the secondpixels PG in the column direction. The second pixels PG may be placed onboth sides of each of the third pixels PB in the row direction. Thefirst pixels PR may be placed on both sides of each of the third pixelsPB in the column direction.

The wiring lines WL1 and WL2 may be placed between rows of the pixelsPR, PG and PB. The initialization voltage VINIT may be applied to thewiring lines WL1 and WL2. According to some embodiments, signals otherthan the initialization voltage VINIT may be transmitted to the wiringlines WL1 and WL2. Wiring lines formed to not overlap the pixels PR, PGand PB may correspond to the wiring lines WL1 and WL2 of FIG. 3,regardless of what signals are transmitted to the wiring lines.

The wiring lines WL1 and WL2 may be formed in a zigzag pattern. If thewiring lines WL1 and WL2 are formed in a zigzag pattern, the pixels PR,PG and PB can be formed to have different lengths in the columndirection. For example, the pixels PR, PG and PB can be formed such thata length dR of the first pixels PR in the column direction is smallerthan a length dG of the second pixels PG in the column direction andthat the length dG of the second pixels PG in the column direction issmaller than a length dB of the third pixels PB in the column direction.Accordingly, the third pixels PB whose organic layers deterioraterelatively rapidly can easily be formed larger in area than the firstand second pixels PR and PG. Generally, the luminance of light emittedfrom a pixel PX corresponds to an electric current flowing through anorganic layer of the pixel PX. Therefore, if the third pixels PB areformed larger in area than the first and second pixels PR and PG, thedensity of an electric current flowing through the organic layer of eachof the third pixels PB may be reduced so that the third pixels PB canemit light at the same luminance level as the first and second pixels PRand PG. An organic layer included in a pixel PX deteriorates more as thedensity of an electric current flowing through the organic layerincreases. Therefore, a reduction in the density of the electric currentflowing through the organic layer included in each of the third pixelsPB may lead to an increase in the life of each of the third pixels PB.That is, if the wiring lines WL1 and WL2 are formed in a zigzag pattern,it is possible to extend the life of the third pixels PB which have ashortest life, thereby extending the life of the organic light-emittingdisplay device 1000. In addition, since a ratio of the area of anon-emission region other than the pixels PX to the area of the pixelsPX is reduced, the aperture ratio of the organic light-emitting displaydevice 1000 can be improved.

The wiring lines WL1 and WL2 may include a first wiring line WL1 and asecond wiring line WL2. The first wiring line WL1 and the second wiringline WL2 may be adjacent to each other. The first wring line WL1 may beplaced adjacent to a side of a row of pixels PX, and the second wiringline WL2 may be placed adjacent to the other side of the row of pixelsPX. If the first and second wiring lines WL1 and WL2 are formed in azigzag pattern, a distance between the first wiring line WL1 and thesecond wiring line WL2 may vary according to location. For example, adistance d1 between the first wiring line WL1 and the second wiring lineWL2 measured across the first pixels PR may be smaller than a distanced2 measured across the second pixels PG, and the distance d2 measuredacross the second pixels PG may be smaller than a distance d3 measuredacross the third pixels PB. In this case, since the third pixels PB canbe formed wider than the first and second pixels PR and PG, the life ofthe third pixels PB which have a shortest life can be extended, therebyextending the life of the organic light-emitting display device 1000. Inaddition, the aperture ratio of the organic light-emitting displaydevice 1000 can be improved.

The arrangement of the pixels PX and the wiring lines WL1 and WL2 willnow be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is across-sectional view of the organic light-emitting display device 1000,taken along the line IV-IV′ of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the organic light-emitting display device 1000 mayinclude a substrate 10, a buffer layer 20, a semiconductor layer SM, agate insulating layer 30, a gate electrode G, an interlayer insulatingfilm 40, a source electrode S, a drain electrode D, a planarizationlayer 50, a bottom electrode E1, an organic layer EL, a top electrodeE2, a capping layer 70, the second wiring line WL, and a gate line GL.

The substrate 10 may support other components of the organiclight-emitting display device 1000. The substrate 10 may be formed of aninsulating material. For example, the substrate 10 may be formed of, butnot limited to, glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate(PC), polyethersulfone (PES), polyimide (PI), or polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA). According to some embodiments, the substrate 10 may also beformed of a flexible material.

The buffer layer 20 may be formed on a top surface of the substrate 10.The buffer layer 20 may prevent penetration of impurity elements andplanarize the top surface of the substrate 10. The buffer layer 20 maybe formed of various materials that can perform the above functions. Forexample, the buffer layer 20 may be formed of any one of a siliconnitride (SiN_(x)) layer, a silicon oxide (SiO₂) layer, and a siliconoxynitride (SiO_(x)N_(y)) layer. According to some embodiments, thebuffer layer 20 may also be omitted.

The semiconductor layer SM may be disposed on the buffer layer 20. Thesemiconductor layer SM may be formed of an amorphous silicon layer or apolycrystalline silicon layer. The semiconductor layer SM may include achannel region undoped with impurities and a source region and a drainregion which are disposed on both sides of the channel region and arep+-doped to contact the source electrode S and the drain electrode D,respectively. Impurities used to dope the semiconductor layer SM may beP-type impurities including boron (B), such as B₂H₆. The type ofimpurities used to dope the semiconductor layer SM may vary depending onthe embodiment. According to some embodiments, the semiconductor layerSM may also be formed of an oxide semiconductor.

The gate insulating layer 30 may be disposed on the semiconductor layerSM. The gate insulating layer 30 may insulate the gate electrode G,which will be formed later, and the semiconductor layer SM from eachother. The gate insulating layer 30 may be formed of silicon nitride(SiN_(x)) or silicon oxide (SiO₂).

The gate electrode G may be disposed on the gate insulating layer 30.The gate electrode G may overlap at least a region of the semiconductorlayer SM. A voltage applied to the gate electrode G may control thesemiconductor layer SM to have conductivity or non-conductivity. Forexample, if a relatively high voltage is applied to the gate electrodeG, the semiconductor layer SM may have conductivity, therebyelectrically connecting the drain electrode D and the source electrode Sto each other. If a relatively low voltage is applied to the gateelectrode, the semiconductor layer SM may have non-conductivity, therebyinsulating the drain electrode D and the source electrode S from eachother.

The gate line GL may be disposed on the gate insulating layer 30. Thegate line GL and the gate electrode G may be formed on the same layer bythe same process. The gate line GL may transmit the first through n^(th)scan signals S1 through Sn to the gate electrode G.

The source electrode S and the drain electrode D may be disposed on theinterlayer insulating film 40. The source electrode S and the drainelectrode D may respectively be connected to the semiconductor layer SMby through holes which penetrate through the interlayer insulating film40 and the gate insulating layer 30. The source electrode S, the drainelectrode D, the gate electrode G, and the semiconductor layer SM mayform a thin-film transistor T, and the thin-film transistor T maydetermine whether to provide a signal transmitted to the sourceelectrode S to the drain electrode D based on the voltage applied to thegate electrode G.

The planarization layer 50 may be disposed on the source electrode S,the drain electrode D, and the interlayer insulating film 40. To improvethe emission efficiency of the organic layer EL disposed on theplanarization layer 50, the planarization layer 50 may be formed to havea flat top surface without a step difference. The planarization layer 50may be formed of an insulating material. For example, the planarizationlayer 50 may be formed of one or more materials selected from, but notlimited to, polyacrylates resin, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, polyamidesresin, polyimides rein, unsaturated polyesters resin, polyphenylenethers resin, poly phenylenesulfides resin, and benzocyclobutene(BCB).

A contact hole H may be formed in the planarization layer 50. Thecontact hole H may be formed to expose a top surface of the drainelectrode D of the thin-film transistor T. The bottom electrode E1 andthe drain electrode D may be connected to each other by the contact holeH.

The bottom electrode E1 may be disposed on the planarization layer 50.The bottom electrode E1 may be connected to the drain electrode D by thecontact hole H. A signal transmitted from the drain electrode D to thebottom electrode E1 may control light emission of the organic layer EL.

The bottom electrode E1 may be formed of a reflective conductivematerial. For example, the bottom electrode E1 may be formed to have astructure of, but not limited to, Ag/indium tin oxide (ITO), ITO/Ag/ITO,Mo/ITO, Al/ITO, or Ti/ITO. The bottom electrode E1 formed of areflective conductive material may reflect light generated by theorganic layer EL in an upward direction.

The second wiring line WL2 may be disposed on the planarization layer 50to be separated from the bottom electrode E1. The second wiring line WL2and the bottom electrode EL may be formed on the same layer by the sameprocess. If the second wiring line WL2 is formed on the same layer asthe bottom electrode E1, the placement of the bottom electrode E1 aswell as the placement of each pixel PX is limited by the placement ofthe second wiring line WL2. Therefore, if the second wiring line WL2 isformed in a zigzag pattern, the third pixels PB can be formed larger inarea than the first and second pixels PR and PG, thereby increasing thelife and aperture ratio of the organic light-emitting display device1000. Although not shown in FIG. 4, a description of the first wiringline WL1 is substantially identical to that of the second wiring lineWL2. The arrangement of the wiring lines WL1 and WL2 and the bottomelectrodes E1 will now be described in more detail with reference toFIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangementof the bottom electrodes E1 and the wiring lines WL1 and WL2 of theorganic light-emitting display device 1000 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the bottom electrodes E1 may be divided into firstthrough third bottom electrodes ER, EG and EB. The first bottomelectrode ER may be placed in each of the first pixels PR, the secondbottom electrode EG may be placed in each of the second pixels PG, andthe third bottom electrode EB may be placed in each of the third pixelsPB. The arrangement of the first through third bottom electrodes ER, EGand EB may be substantially identical to the arrangement of the firstthrough third pixels PR, PG and PB in FIG. 3. A length dER of the firstbottom electrode ER in the column direction may be smaller than a lengthdEG of the second bottom electrode EG in the column direction, and thelength dEG of the second bottom electrode EG in the column direction maybe smaller than a length dEB of the third bottom electrode EB in thecolumn direction. In this case, the third pixels PB may be formed longerin the column direction than the first and second pixels PR and PG.Accordingly, since the third pixels PB can easily be formed larger thanthe first and second pixels PR and PG, the life of the third pixels PBcan be extended, thereby extending the life of the organiclight-emitting display device 1000. In addition, the aperture ratio ofthe organic light-emitting display device 1000 can be improved.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the organic layer EL may be disposed on thebottom electrode E1. The organic layer EL may be disposed in an aperturein which a pixel defining layer 60, which will be described later, isnot formed. According to some embodiments, the organic layer EL may alsobe disposed on the whole surface of the organic light-emitting displaydevice 1000. An electric current flowing through the organic layer ELmay be controlled by a signal transmitted to the bottom electrode E1 andthe top electrode E2. The organic layer EL may emit light at a luminancelevel corresponding to the electric current flowing through the organiclayer EL. The organic layer EL may emit light of one of red, blue andgreen colors. In FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of a first pixel PR andits surrounding area is illustrated. Therefore, the organic layer EL ofFIG. 4 may emit red light. The color of light emitted from the organiclayer EL is not limited to the above colors and may vary depending onembodiments. The arrangement of the organic layers EL and the wiringlines WL1 and WL2 will now be described in more detail with reference toFIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangementof the organic layers EL and the wiring lines WL1 and WL2 of the organiclight-emitting display device 1000 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 6, the organic layers EL may be divided into firstthrough third organic layers ELR, ELG and ELB. The first organic layerELR may be placed in each of the first pixels PR, the second organiclayer ELG may be placed in each of the second pixels PG, and the thirdorganic layer ELB may be placed in each of the third pixels PB. Thearrangement of the first through third organic layers ELR, ELG and ELBmay be substantially identical to the arrangement of the first throughthird pixels PR, PG and PB in FIG. 3. A length dELR of the first organiclayer ELR in the column direction may be smaller than a length dELG ofthe second organic layer ELG in the column direction, and the lengthdELG of the second organic layer ELG in the column direction may besmaller than a length dELB of the third organic layer ELB in the columndirection. In FIG. 6, a case where the organic layers EL are disposed inapertures in which the pixel defining layer 60 is not formed isillustrated. However, if the organic layers EL are disposed on the wholesurface of the organic light-emitting display device 1000, thearrangement of the organic layers EL may be different from that in FIG.6.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the pixel defining layer 60 may be disposed onthe planarization layer 50. The pixel defining layer 60 may defineregions of the pixels PX included in the organic light-emitting displaydevice 1000. The pixel defining layer 60 may not completely cover a topsurface of the planarization layer 50. The organic light-emittingdisplay device 1000 may include an aperture which exposes the bottomelectrode E1 and in which the pixel defining layer 60 is not disposed. Aregion in which the aperture is located may be defined as a pixel PX.

The top electrode E2 may be disposed on the organic layer EL. The topelectrode E2 may be placed over the pixels PX. The top electrode E2 maybe placed on the whole surface of the organic light-emitting displaydevice 1000. The top electrode E2 may be formed of an opticallytransparent or semi-transparent conductive material. For example, thetop electrode E2 may be formed of, but not limited to, ITO, indium zincoxide (IZO), a compound of magnesium (Mg) and silver (Ag), a compound ofcalcium (Ca) and Ag, or a compound of lithium (Li) and aluminum (Al).Light generated by the organic layer EL may be emitted to the outside ofthe organic light-emitting display device 1000 through the top electrodeE2. To improve light transmittance of the top electrode E2, the topelectrode E2 may be formed thin. For example, the top electrode E2 maybe formed to a thickness of 200 Å or less.

The capping layer 70 may be disposed on the top electrode E2. Thecapping layer 70 may be disposed on the bottom electrode E1 or in theaperture. The capping layer 70 may also be disposed on the whole surfaceof the organic light-emitting display device 1000. The capping layer 70may control optical characteristics of light emitted from the organiclayer EL.

Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 7 through 9. FIG. 7 is a plan view schematicallyillustrating the arrangement of pixels PX and wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′of an organic light-emitting display device constructed as anotherembodiment according to the principles of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, one second pixel PG and one third pixel PB may beplaced on both sides of each of first pixels PR in a row direction. Thethird pixels PB may be placed on both sides of each of the first pixelsPR in a column direction. One first pixel PR and one third pixel PB maybe placed on both sides of each of the second pixels PG in the rowdirection. The second pixels PG may be placed on both sides of each ofthe second pixels PG in the column direction. One first pixel PR and onesecond pixel PG may be placed on both sides of each of the third pixelsPB in the row direction. The first pixels PR may be placed on both sidesof each of the third pixels PB in the column direction.

The wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′ may be placed between rows of the pixelsPR, PG and PB. The wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′ may be formed in a zigzagpattern. If the wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′ are formed in a zigzagpattern, the pixels PR, PG and PB can be formed to have differentlengths in the column direction. For example, the pixels PR, PG and PBcan be formed such that a length dR′ of the first pixels PR in thecolumn direction is smaller than a length dG′ of the second pixels PG inthe column direction and that the length dG′ of the second pixels PG inthe column direction is smaller than a length dB′ of the third pixels PBin the column direction. Accordingly, the third pixels PB whose organiclayers deteriorate relatively rapidly can easily be formed larger inarea than the first and second pixels PR and PG. Generally, theluminance of light emitted from a pixel PX corresponds to an electriccurrent flowing through an organic layer of the pixel PX. Therefore, ifthe third pixels PB are formed larger in area than the first and secondpixels PR and PG, the density of an electric current flowing through theorganic layer of each of the third pixels PB may be reduced so that thethird pixels PB can emit light at the same luminance level as the firstand second pixels PR and PG. An organic layer included in a pixel PXdeteriorates more as the density of an electric current flowing throughthe organic layer increases. Therefore, a reduction in the density ofthe electric current flowing through the organic layer included in eachof the third pixels PB may lead to an increase in the life of each ofthe third pixels PB. That is, if the wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′ areformed in a zigzag pattern, it is possible to extend the life of thethird pixels PB which have a shortest life, thereby extending the lifeof the organic light-emitting display device. In addition, since a ratioof the area of a non-emission region other than the pixels PX to thearea of the pixels PX is reduced, an aperture ratio of the organiclight-emitting display device can be improved.

The wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′ may include a first wiring line WL1′ anda second wiring line WL2′. The first wiring line WL1′ and the secondwiring line WL2′ may be adjacent to each other. The first wring lineWL1′ may be placed adjacent to a side of a row of pixels PX, and thesecond wiring line WL2′ may be placed adjacent to the other side of therow of pixels PX. If the first and second wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′ areformed in a zigzag pattern, a distance between the first wiring lineWL1′ and the second wiring line WL2′ may vary according to location. Forexample, a distance d1′ between the first wiring line WL1′ and thesecond wiring line WL2′ measured across the first pixels PR may besmaller than a distance d2′ measured across the second pixels PG, andthe distance d2′ measured across the second pixels PG may be smallerthan a distance d3′ measured across the third pixels PB. In this case,since the third pixels PB can be formed wider than the first and secondpixels PR and PG, the life of the third pixels PB which have a shortestlife can be extended, thereby extending the life of the organiclight-emitting display device 1000. In addition, the aperture ratio ofthe organic light-emitting display device 1000 can be improved.

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement ofbottom electrodes E1 and the wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′ of the organiclight-emitting display device shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 8, the bottom electrodes E1 may be divided into firstthrough third bottom electrodes ER, EG and EB. The first bottomelectrode ER may be placed in each of the first pixels PR, the secondbottom electrode EG may be placed in each of the second pixels PG, andthe third bottom electrode EB may be placed in each of the third pixelsPB. The arrangement of the first through third bottom electrodes ER, EGand EB may be substantially identical to the arrangement of the firstthrough third pixels PR, PG and PB in FIG. 7. A length dER′ of the firstbottom electrode ER in the column direction may be smaller than a lengthdEG′ of the second bottom electrode EG in the column direction, and thelength dEG′ of the second bottom electrode EG in the column directionmay be smaller than a length dEB′ of the third bottom electrode EB inthe column direction. In this case, the third pixels PB may be formedlonger in the column direction than the first and second pixels PR andPG. Accordingly, since the third pixels PB can easily be formed largerthan the first and second pixels PR and PG, the life of the third pixelsPB can be extended, thereby extending the life of the organiclight-emitting display device 1000. In addition, the aperture ratio ofthe organic light-emitting display device 1000 can be improved.

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement oforganic layers EL and the wiring lines WL1′ and WL2′ of the organiclight-emitting display device shown in FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 9, theorganic layers EL may be divided into first through third organic layersELR, ELG and ELB. The first organic layer ELR may be placed in each ofthe first pixels PR, the second organic layer ELG may be placed in eachof the second pixels PG, and the third organic layer ELB may be placedin each of the third pixels PB. The arrangement of the first throughthird organic layers ELR, ELG and ELB may be substantially identical tothe arrangement of the first through third pixels PR, PG and PB in FIG.7. A length dELR′ of the first organic layer ELR in the column directionmay be smaller than a length dELG′ of the second organic layer ELG inthe column direction, and the length dELG′ of the second organic layerELG in the column direction may be smaller than a length dELB′ of thethird organic layer ELB in the column direction. In FIG. 9, a case wherethe organic layers EL are disposed in apertures in which a pixeldefining layer 60 is not formed is illustrated. However, if the organiclayers EL are disposed on the whole surface of the organiclight-emitting display device 1000, the arrangement of the organiclayers EL may be different from that in FIG. 9.

Embodiments of the present invention provide at least one of thefollowing advantages.

The life of an organic light-emitting display device can be extended.

In addition, the aperture ratio of the organic light-emitting displaydevice can be improved.

However, the effects of the present invention are not restricted to theone set forth herein. The above and other effects of the presentinvention will become more apparent to one of daily skill in the art towhich the present invention pertains by referencing the claims.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims. Theexemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense onlyand not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An organic light-emitting display device,comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern defininga plurality of intersecting rows and columns; and a plurality of wiringlines formed in a zigzag pattern and extending in a direction of therows between the pixels.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein aninitialization signal is transmitted to the wiring lines.
 3. The displaydevice of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of data linesextending in a direction of the columns between the pixels.
 4. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein a distance in the direction of thecolumns between two of the plurality of wiring lines adjacent to eachother varies according to color of a pixel interposed between the twowiring lines.
 5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the pixelscomprise a first pixel which emits red light, a second pixel which emitsgreen light, and a third pixel which emits blue light, wherein adistance between the two wiring lines across the first pixel is smallerthan a distance between the two wiring lines across the second pixel,and the distance between the two wiring lines across the second pixel issmaller than a distance between the two wiring lines across the thirdpixel.
 6. The display device of claim 5, wherein the third pixel isadjacent to both sides of the first pixel in the direction of thecolumns, the first pixel is adjacent to both sides of the third pixel inthe direction of the columns, and the second pixel is adjacent to bothsides of the second pixel in the direction of the columns.
 7. Thedisplay device of claim 6, wherein the second pixel is adjacent to bothsides of the first pixel and the third pixel in the direction of therows.
 8. The display device of claim 6, wherein both sides of each ofthe first through third pixels in the direction of rows are not adjacentto pixels of the same type as that of the corresponding pixel.
 9. Thedisplay device of claim 5, wherein a length of the first pixel in thedirection of the columns is smaller than a length of the second pixel inthe direction of the columns, and the length of the second pixel in thedirection of the columns is smaller than a length of the third pixel inthe direction of the columns.
 10. An organic light-emitting displaydevice, comprising: a substrate; an insulating layer disposed on thesubstrate; a plurality of bottom electrodes arranged on the insulatinglayer in a matrix pattern defining a plurality of intersecting rows andcolumns; an organic layer disposed on each of the bottom electrodes; atop electrode disposed on the organic layer; and a plurality of wiringlines formed on the insulating layer in a zigzag pattern and placedbetween the rows of the bottom electrodes.
 11. The display device ofclaim 10, wherein an initialization signal is transmitted to the wiringlines.
 12. The display device of claim 10, wherein the wiring linescomprise: a first wiring line placed on a side of one of the pluralityof rows of the bottom electrodes; and a second wiring line placed on theother side of the row, wherein a distance between the first wiring lineand the second wiring line varies according to the color of lightemitted from the organic layer.
 13. The display device of claim 12,wherein the organic layer emits light of any one of red, green and bluecolors, wherein a length of the organic layer, which emits red light, ina direction of the columns is smaller than a length of the organiclayer, which emits green light, in the direction of the columns, and thelength of the organic layer, which emits the green light, in thedirection of the columns is smaller than a length of the organic layer,which emits blue light, in the direction of the columns.
 14. The displaydevice of claim 10, wherein the organic layer comprises first throughthird emission regions which respectively emit light of first throughthird colors, wherein the bottom electrodes comprise first through thirdbottom electrodes respectively disposed under the first through thirdemission regions.
 15. The display device of claim 14, wherein the firstcolor is the red color, the second color is the green color, and thethird color is the blue color.
 16. The display device of claim 15,wherein a distance between the wiring lines adjacent to the first bottomelectrode which is measured across the first bottom electrode is smallerthan a distance between the wiring lines adjacent to the second bottomelectrode which is measured across the second bottom electrode, and thedistance between the wiring lines adjacent to the second bottomelectrode which is measured across the second bottom electrode issmaller than a distance between the wiring lines adjacent to the thirdbottom electrode which is measured across the third bottom electrode.17. The display device of claim 15, wherein both sides of the firstbottom electrode in the direction of the columns are adjacent to thethird bottom electrode, and both sides of the third bottom electrode inthe direction of columns are adjacent to the first bottom electrode. 18.The display device of claim 17, wherein both sides of the second bottomelectrode in the direction of columns are adjacent to the second bottomelectrode.
 19. The display device of claim 15, wherein a length of thefirst bottom electrode in the direction of columns is smaller than alength of the second bottom electrode in the direction of columns, andthe length of the second bottom electrode in the direction of columns issmaller than a length of the third bottom electrode in the direction ofcolumns.
 20. The display device of claim 14, wherein a length of thefirst emission region in the direction of the columns is smaller than alength of the second emission region in the direction of columns, andthe length of the second emission region in the direction of the columnsis smaller than a length of the third emission region in the directionof the columns.